Electric signaling apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. P. TIBRE LL. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 331,463.. Patented 1360.1, 1885 WITNESSES N. PETERS phowinhugrnylhenWashmgkm. Dr C.

(No Model.) 2 Sh,eetsSheet 2. J. P. TIRRELL. ELECTRIC SIGNALINGAPPARATUS.

No. 331,463. Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

lNVENTDR' *WITN'EEEES NY PEYENSI Fholuiilhogmphcr. Washmglou. D. c.

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JACOB P. TIRRELL, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO JAMES F. EMERSON, OF WAKEFIELD, GEORGE O. CARPENTER, OFBOSTON, AND JOHN \V. CARTER, OF NENVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SEGNALENG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,4:63, datedDecember 1, 1885. Application filed December 18, 1884. Serial No.150,624. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, JACOB P. TIRRELL, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain Improvements inElectric Signaling Apparatus, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of electric signals which arecapable of giving automaticallyaseries of signals in accordance with aprearranged schedule or timetable, the

invention being chiefly intended to give warning and departure signalsfor railroad-trains.

The inventionhas for its object to provide a simple and effectiveapparatus of this class;

and to this end'it consists in the improvements which I will now proceedto describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2represents a sect-ion on line 00 00, Fig. 1, looking toward the righthand. Fig. 2 represents a similarf section showing a different position.Fig. 3 represents a section on line 2 3 y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents asection on line z .2, Fig. 2, looking downwardly. Fig. 5 represents anend elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 6 represents a top view of thesame, and Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of a portion of theapparatus.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In carrying out my invention I take a strip, or, preierably, an endlessband, a, of paper or 5 other suitable material which is a non-conductorof electricity, and suspend the same from a drum, 1), which is rotatedstep by step at a predetermined rate by mechanism hereinafter described,the movement being in the present case one step per minute. The strip ais perforated at regular intervals to receive spurs on the drum Z), thepaper being thus positively engaged with and moved by the drum. The bandpasses from the drum 1) over suitable pulleys, whereby its length isconveniently disposed, and is kept taut by a weighted pulley hung on abight of the band. The edges of the band are graduated, the subdivisionsbeing of the same length as the movement imparted to the band by eachpartial rotation of the drum. Each subdivision represents one minute,and there are as many subdivisions in the entire length of the band asthere are minutes in twenty-four hours. The band is wider than the drumb,and projects 5 from the periphery thereof at both sides. In the edgesof the band are cut notches 00, each notch being the length of onesubdivision. The notches are cut in accordance with the series ofsignals to be given, a circuit being 6 closed through a signal gong wheneach notch reaches a given point, as hereinafter described. The notchesin one edge of the band (the left-hand edge, as seen in Fig. 1) give thesignals for week-days, while the notches in 6 5 the other edge give thesignals on Sundays, automatic mechanism, hereinafter described, beingemployed, whereby the closure of the circuit through the gong isgoverned for six successive days by the notches in the one edge 7Q ofthe band, and on the seventh day by the notches in the other edge.

01 represents a lever pivoted at e to one of the plates of thesupporting-frame, and provided with two spring contact-arms, e e, whichproject over the drum 1), and are depressed once each minute by a timemechanism hereinafter described. W hen the contactarms are depressed,the arm 6 coincides with any notch in the weekday edge of the band thatmay be under said arm, and the arm 6 coincides with any notch in theSunday-edge. I

f f represent contact-points placed under the projecting edges of theportion of the band that rests on the drum 1), the pointf being inposition to make contact with the arm e when the latter is depressed,and coincides with a notch, a, while the point f makes contact undersimilar circumstances with the arm 6. Vhen either of the arms 6 c indescending 0 does not coincide with a notch in the band, it is separatedand insulated from the corresponding contact-point by the band.

YVhen the apparatus is in condition for weekday use, the contact of thearm 0 with 5 the point f closes an electric circuit through said point,a wire, 2, connected to it, a post,

3, to which said wire passes, a movable switch,

4, then in contact with an arm, 5, on said post a spring, 6, wire 7,electric gong 9, wire 10, battery 11, wire 12, the metallic frame of theapparatus, the lever (Z, and the arm 6. When the apparatus is incondition for Sunday use, the switch 4 is moved from the arm of the post3 and makes contact with an arm, 13, on another post, 14. The contact ofthe arm 6 with the point f closes a circuit through wire 15, post 14:,arm 13, the switch 4, the gong, the battery, the metallic frame, thelever d, and the arm 6, the pointf being cut out by the describedmovement of the switch, so that no effect is produced by contact of thearm e with it, while the pointf is cut out when the switch is in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 5. It will be seen, therefore, that whenthe apparatus is in condition for weekday use the circuit is closed andthe gong sounded by each contact of the arm a with the point f, thetimes of said contacts being determined by the number and position ofthe notches in the week-day edge of the band. When the apparatus is incondition for Sunday use, the circuit is closed and the gong sounded byeach contact of the arm 0 with the point f. The progressive movement ofthe band one step in each minute and the depression of the arms 6 0 onceeach minute insure the coincidence of each arm with all of the notcheswith which it is intended to co-operate. The arms 6 e and contact-pointsf f constitute the separable terminals of two branches of the circuit.

I will now specifically describe the mechanism whereby the drum b isrotated step by step. The arms 6 e are depressed and the switch et ismoved to alternately throw each branch into and out of the circuit.

9 represents the drum on which is wound the cord h of theimpeding-weight. (Not shown in the drawings.) Said weight impels atimetrain composed of a gear, Z, affixed to the drum 9, a pinion, j, onan arbor, 7c, meshing with the gear 1, a gear, Z, on the arbor k, apinion, m, on an arbor, a, meshing with the gear Z, a gear, 0, on thearbor n, and a piniomp, on an arbor, q, meshing with the gear 0. Thearbors of this train are journaled in the metal plates r 1". The arbor7c supports and rotates the bandcarrying drum Z),while the arbor q isprovided at one end with a cam, 8, against which contact-arm the leverdis held by a spring, Z.

To the arbor q, near its opposite end, is affixed an arm, a, which isalternately held and released by a let-off mechanism which releases saidarm once each minute, allowing it to make a complete rotation with itsarbor q,and then rearresting it, the entire train being impelled by theweight while the arbor q is released. The impulse thus given the trainrotates the drum b one step, or the length of one minutedivision on theband a, and causes the cam s to depress the lever (Z and contactarms ce, the lever being raised by its spring t after it is depressed by thecam.

The letotfmechanism is composed of a rockshaft, a, having an arm, I), onwhich are two pallets, 0' (Z, and an arm, j, having a stud, 9, an arbor,it, having a cam, 1', against which the stud g bears, an escape-wheel,on the arbor h, an escapement, Z, and a pendulum, n, whereby therotation of the arbor h is governed, and a spring, 0, secured at one endto a collar on the arbor q of the train above described,.and at itsother end to a collar on the escape-wheel arbor h. (See Fig. 3.) Whenthe train is released, the rotation of the arbor q winds up the spring 0and causes it to impeel the arbor h, which rotates the cam t" at a rategoverned by the escapement and pendulum, the cam making a completerotation once each minute. WVhen the cam is in the position shown inFig. 2, its recessed portion receiving the stud g on the arm j oftherockshaft a, the other arm I) of said rock-shaft is held in positionto present its outer pallet, d, to a stud, p, on the arm a of thetime-train arbor q, as shown in Fig. 2. As the escapewheel arbor 71/rotates from the position shown in Fig. 2 the arm 7" is moved outwardly,and the arm I) is raised, as shown in Fig. 2, thus allowing the arm a topass the outer pallet,d, and bring up against the inner pallet,c. Whenthe cam again reaches the position shown in Fig. 1, the stud of the armj drops abruptly into the recessed portion of the cam, thus depressingthe arm I) and causing the pallet c to release the arm u,and thetime-train,which is impelled with the above-described result until thearm a is again arrested by the pal.- let d.

The movement of the timetrain is regulated by an escape-wheel, r, on thearbor q, and an escapement, s, secured to a short pendulum, t, pivotedto one of the plates 1".

The intermittent movement of the time-train may be used to closeelectric circuits for other purposes -for example, through electricdials, the hands thereof being moved once each minute by the closure ofthe circuit.

The means whereby the switch 4 is automatically operated are as followsTo the switch is attached an arm, 17, of non-conducting material, whichis ordinarily held by the spring 6 in the position shown in Fig. 1, theswitch being in contact with the post 3, as required for week-dayoperation. A wheel, 18, having teeth out in its periphery, and aprojection, 19,011 one side, is journaled in abracket on thesupporting-base of the apparatus. The arbor of the drum 9 has a singletooth, 20, Fig. 5, which engages with a tooth of the wheel 18, and givesthe latter a partial rotation once during ea ch complete rotation of thedrum 9, the wheel 18 thus being completely rotated once each week. Theprojection 19 occupies one-seventh of the diameter of the wheel 18, andis formed to come in contact with and displace the arm 17 after theapparatus has been in operation for six successive days, thedisplacement of the arm continuing while the wheel is making one-seventhof a rotation and causing the switch 4 to make contact with the post 14,thus adapting the apparatus for Sunday use.- When the projection 19leaves the arm 17 at the end of Sunday, the spring 6 restores the armand switch to their week-day position. I prefer to provide the band awith notches arranged to give two signals in successionone being awarning-signalthree minutes prior to the departure signal.

It is obvious that the arrangement for giv ing a different order ofsignals on Sunday may be dispensed with in an apparatus intended forgiving signals according to only oneschedule.

Any desired number of hands a may be op erated by a single timetrain, aseparate circuit being employed for each band. Thus in stations used byseveral railroads one time mechanism can be made to give the signals fortrains on all the roads.

It is customary to give two or more blows on a gong as awarning ordeparture signal in railway-stations, and often the warning anddeparture signals differ in the number of blows given. In electricsignal apparatus heretofore used a separate closure of the circuit hasbeen required for each blow on the gong. Thus in giving three blows thecircuit must be closed and broken three times in rapid succession.

My apparatus closes the circuit only once in each minute, as abovedescribed, and to enable this single closure to cause any desired numberof blows on the signal-gong I employ an improved gong-striking mechanismdescribed and claimed in another application for Letters Patent filedwith this application. Said striking mechanism is normally held by anarmature-detent, which, when attracted to an electro-magnent by theclosure of the circuit, releases the mechanism and is prevented fromreturning to its holding position after the circuit is broken bymechanical devices operated by the striking mechanism, until therequired number of blows have been given, when the detent resumes itsnormal position and arrests the striking mechanism.

I claim 1. In an electric time-signal, a flexible strip or band havingnotches or perforations arranged in conformity to a schedule ortimetable, combined with mechanism, substantially as described, formoving said band progressively at a predetermined rate, so that eachnotch will be in a given position at a given minute, and an electriccircuit, includ ing a signaling device and having terminals which areseparated by the imperforate por tions of the band and are permitted tomeet and close the circuit through the signaling de vice by the notchesor perforations oftheband, as set forth.

2. In an electric time-signal, a flexible strip or band having notchesor perforations arranged in conformity to a schedule or timetable,combined with mechanism,substantially as described, for moving said bandprogres sively step by step at a predetermined rate, an electriccircuit, including a signaling device, and having terminals which areseparated by the imperlorate portions of the band, and mechanism,substantial] y as described, whereby one set of terminals is depressedat regular intervals corres ionding to the intervals between themovements of the band, as set forth.

In an electric signal, the combination of a flexible strip or bandhaving two series of notches or perforations, mechanism, substantiallyas described, for moving said band step by step, an electric circuit,including a signaling device, and having two branches, each havingterminals which are separated by the imperforate portions of the band,and are permitted to meet, by the notches or perforations thereof, oneseries of notches co-operating with one branch and the other series withthe other branch, and an automatic switch mechanism, substantially asdescribed, whereby each branch is alternately made operative andinoperative, as set forth.

a. In an electric signal, the combination of the flexible band havingnotches or perforations, the electric circuit, including a signalingdevice, and having terminals which are separated by the imperforateportions of the band and are allowed to meet by the notches orperforations thereof, one of said terminals being capable of.oscillating a time-train having on one of its arbors a drum which movesthe flexible band, and on another a cam which depresses the oscillatoryterminal, and a let-off mechanism,substantially as described, wherebythe train is allowed to operate once in each minute, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the time-train, of the signaling mechanismoperated thereby, an arbor, h, connected by a spring, 0, with one of thearbors of said train, and provided with a cam and an escape-wheel, anescapement and pendulum, whereby the rotation of the arbor h and its camis regulated, and mechanism,substantially as described, controlled bysaid cam, whereby the timetrain is alternately released and arrested,the spring 0 being wound by the movement ofthe timetrain, and thuscaused to impel the arbor and cam, as set forth.

6. The combination,with the time-train hav ing the arbor q and the arm aon said arbor, of the arbor it, having the cam z" and escapewheel anescapement and a pendulum governing the rotation of said arbor, thespring 0', connected at one end to the arbor q, and at the other end tothe arbor h, and the rockshaft a, having the arm j bearing against thecam i, and the arm I), having the arrestingpallets c d, as set forth.

7. The combination of the time-train, the toothed wheel 18, rotatedthereby, the pivoted non-conducting arm 17, the switch 4, secured tosaid arm and pressed normally toward the wheel by a spring, 6, theprojectionli) on said wheel,whereby the arm 17 is displaced during apart of a complete rotation of the wheel, and

a two-branched electric circuit, the branches whereof are alternatelycut out by the movename to this specification, in the presence of mentsof the switch, as set forth. two subscribing witnesses, this 1st day ofDe- 8. Atimetrain combined with let-offmecheeniber, 1884.

anisrn, substantially as described, whereby In testimony whereof I havesigned my o said train is released and allowed to move JACOB TIRRELL'once each minute, combined with an electric Witnesses:

circuit or circuits closed by each movement I O. F. BROWN, of thetime-train, as set forth. R. J. POWERS.

